Electric-lighting fixture



H. C. SCHARFF.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 30,1920.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

UNITED HAROLD C. SCHARFF, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOUBL ELECTRIC-LIGHTINGFIXTURE.

Application fil'ed July 30,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD C. SCHARFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain l5 new anduseful Improvement'in Electric- Lighting Fixtures, 0 which thefollowingis a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecifica tion.

My invention relates generally to electric lighting fixtures or bracketsand more par ticularly to a universal joint for said brackets orfixtures, the principal object of my invention being to provide arelatively simple form of joint between the post or standard of 1 thefixture and the lamp-carrying arm thereof, which oint will permit thelamp-carrying arm to be swung into practically any vertical orhorizontal angle with respect to the post or standard, therebypermitting the lam carried by the arm to be positioned immedlatelyadjacent to a machine or point that is to be under constant observationof a workman or attendant.

A further'object of m invention is to provide a universal joint orelectric light fixtures that is devoid of wires, and which constructiongreatly simplifies the manufacture and repair of the joint andmaterially lessens the liability of the parts becoming inoperativeas aresult of breakage or d1sarrange-' 85 ment of wires.

' fixture of my improved construction, the

same being shown in position on a table adjacent to a sewing machine;Fig. 2 is a toplan view of the universal joint contemplate by myinvention;

1920. Serial No. 460,177.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the universal joint;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig.3;

Flg, 5 is a vertical section taken approximately. on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detailed section of a modified form of the contact membersutilized in my improved joint;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the discs made use of incarrying out my invention;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of'a modified form of the joint;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view' of a further modified form of the joint.

Referring by numerals to the accompanyings drawings, which illustrate apractical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a tubular 0st orstandard which serves as a conduit or the current-carrying wires that abe conduit 11,to which the lower end of the post or standard 10 isconnected.

Where my improved fixture is utilized on a work table adjaceht tomachinery or the like, said post or standard extends upwardly throu h awork table, such as A, toone side 0 a machine, such as B, and thus thelamp-carrying arm forming a part of the fixture may be swung towards andaway from, and vertically with respect to, said machine. The branchcurrent-carrying wires that lead through the tubular post or standardlO'are designated by w, and the same are suitably connected to the saidline wires 6 that pass through conduit 11. Re- 1 movably connected totheupper end of post or standard 10 is a vertically disposedcupshapedmember 12, the cavity or chamber of which is filled withsuitable insulation 13, such as fibre, hard rubber, porcelain, orbakelite. The outer face of this body of insulation lies'flush with theface of theedge of the annular wall of member 12, and seated in the bodyof insulation with their outer face also flush with the edge-face of:

the annular wall of member 12 is a pair of contact rings 14', the samebeing concentric with each other and with the axis of the member 12.These contact rings are. secured to the insulation in any suitablemanner,

flush with the edge-face of the annular wall of member 15 and adapted tomake direct contact with the corresponding faces of rings 14 when thetwo members 12 and 15 are properly assembled. The members 12 and 15 areheld in assembled relation by an axially disposed bolt 18 that passesthrough said members, and the threaded end of sald bolt receiving a wined nut 19. Washers 20 are seated beneath t e head of this bolt andwinged nut in order to assist said parts in holding the members 12 and15 in clamped engagement. By virtue of this construction, member 15 canbe rotated in either direction upon member 12, and the respectivemembers of the pairs of contact. rings 14 and 17 will remain in directelectrical contact with each other so as to serve as a path for electriccurrent. Obviously, by tighten ing winged nut.19 member 15 can be lockedafter being adjusted on member 12.

Formed integral with the member 15 and disposed at right angles thereto,is a chambered member 21 that is identical in size and construction withthe members 12 and 15,

i and located within the member 21 is a body 22 of suitable insulation,the outer face thereof lying flush with the outer edge of the annularwall of member 21, and seated in the outer portion of this body ofinsulation are inner and outer contact rings 23, the outer faces ofwhich lie flush with the outer face of the body of insulation 22. Thesecontact rings are retained in posi tion in the body of insulation 22 inany suitable manner, and leading from the annular contact members 17(thiatt are carried. in. member 15 to said contact rings 23 are suitableconductors 24:. (See dotted lines Fig. 3.)

Arranged against the insulated face of member 21 is a member 25 that isidentical in form and construction with the members 12, 15, and 21, andseated in the chamber of member 25 is a body 26 of insulating material,in the outer face of which is imbedded a pair of concentric contactrings 27. Member 25 is adjustably secured to member 21 by means of anaxially disposed-bolt 28, on the threaded end of which is located awinged nut 29. I Secured to the edge of member 25 in any suitable manneris a tubular arm 30, the free end of which carries a socket 31 that'isadapted to receive an ordiwhich construction nary electric lamp 32,and if desired, the latter may be provided with a suitable reflector orguard, such as 33. through this tubular arm 30 from thecontact memberswithin, socket 31 to the annular contact members 27 are current-carryingwires 0.

When my improved fixture is properly assembled and set up for use,current from the main line wires 5 passes through branch conductors athat extend through the tubular' post or standard 10, the upper ends ofwhich last mentioned conductors are connected to the contact rings 14.From these contact rings the current passes into and through rings 17 inmember 15, and from.

the latter through the conductors 24 into the contact rings 23 that arepositioned in member 21.

contact rings 27 in member 25, and from those to and through conductorsc to lamp 32 that is located in socket 31. By unscrew- Leading I Fromthese last mentioned contact rings the current passes direct to' ingwinged nut 19 member 15 can be rotated in a vertical plane to adjust thevertical position of member 21, andwhich latter.

is fixed to said member 15 and the parts can be secured in theiradjusted position by tightening the winged nut 19. By unscrewing wingednut 29 member 25 can be rotated on the under side of member 21 so as toadjust the lateral position of the lamp-carrying arm 30 that is securedto said member 25, and as a result of this vertical and horizontaladjustment the lamp can be shifted into practically any position withinthe limits of the movable parts of the fixture.

When the winged nuts 19 and 29 are tightened to lock the pairs ofring-containing members in their adjusted positions, the various pairsof contact rings, 13, 17, 23 and 27 will be maintained firmly in contactwith each other, and as a result of such contact paths for the currentto the lamp carried by arm 30 will be formed.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified arrangement of the contact membersbetween a pair of the ring-containing members, and

includes a springpressed pin 35, which performs the functions of a brushcontact, as the member car- ,rgying said pin is adjusted with respect tohe opposite member in which the contact rings are located.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified construction wherein the adjacentedges of the annular Walls of the co-operating members are provided withnotches 36,- the same being adapted to inter-engage with each other-when said members are properly [assembled, thereby decreasing theliability of one member to rotate upon another when properly assembled.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a form of joint which includes but a singlepair of ring-containing members, one of which is carried by the post orstandard 10*, and the other one being adjustably connected to the firstmentioned member, and connected to a lamp-carrying arm In Fig. 9 I haveshown a modified construction-wherein a pair of double or connectedring-containing members, such as 37 are adjustably mounted upon a singledisc 38, and the latter being fixed on the upper end of a supportingpost or standard, and. each of the outer members of the double membershaving adjustably connected-thereto the members that are secured to theinner ends of lamp-carrying arms such as 39. This construction providesfor two adjustable arms disposed on opposite sides of a single post orstandard.

lighting fixture of my improved construction is comparatively simple, iscapa ble of being easlly and cheaply produced, and is equipped with auniversal joint that is devoid of free or loose current-carrying wires,and which construction is effective in minimizing the liability of thestructure becoming inoperative as, a result of loose or broken wires.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of my improved light fixture may bemade and substituted for those herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is setforth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A joint for electric lighting fixtures.comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating oppositely disposedcup-shaped members, a ody of insulation disposed within each, and whollyfilling'the cavities 1 of, said members, a pair of concentric contactrings fixed fiatwise in each insulation body, the outer face of eachring being flush with the edge-face of the annular wall of itsrespective cup-shaped member, and means for adjustably clamping thecup-shaped members together with the rings of one 1nsulation body insliding electrical engagement with the rings of the other insulationbody.

2. comprising, in combination, avpair of rigidly connected cup-shapedmembers, the annular wall of one of said members being disposedsubstantially at right angles to the annular wall of the other'member, athird cup-shaped member oppositely disposed to and adapted forco-operation with one of said members, a fourth cup-shaped memberoppositely disposed to and adapted'for oo- A joint for electric lightingfi xtures operation with the other member of said positely disposedcup-shaped members 'for separately clamping said sets of memberstogether with the rings thereof in sliding electrical engagement, eachset of said oppositely disposed cup-shaped members being selectivelyadjustable independently of the other. 1 I

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 27th day ofJuly, 1920.

HAROLD o. SCHARFF.

